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International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(10) 2014 1089 ISNI:0000000091950263
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Chemical and Molecular Engineering
Vol:8, No:10, 2014
II. NOMENCLATURE the products CH! COO/ Na0 C" H# OH as well as the unreacted
T - Absolute Temperature NaOH, conductivity of the product stream could be expressed
C - Concentration as, [8]
x - Fractional Conversion
k - Frequency Factor κ123&456 'λ() * C() + 'λ,-. * C,-. + 7λ8-98,,. * C8-98,,. : (5)
λ - Molar Conductivity of an ion
k - Rate Constant Furthermore, online conductivity meter displays the
r - Rate of Reaction conductivity value for the solution as at 25oC. Therefore, it
v - Reactor Volume should be corrected to the operating temperature using the
expression, [9]
T
- Reference Temperature
κ - Solution Conductivity ;
κ
- Solution Conductivity at T
κ
;0</ * κ (6)
=>?>=>@A>
- Temperature Coefficient
R - Universal Gas Constant Hydrolysis reaction of ethyl acetate with sodium hydroxide
F - Volumetric Flow Rate is in the form of A B C D. Moreover, the concentration
of both the NaOH and CH! COOC" H# are similar, the
III. THEORY concentration of components at initially and any time t, can be
expressed as follows.
Open Science Index, Chemical and Molecular Engineering Vol:8, No:10, 2014 waset.org/Publication/9999474
A. Saponification
Saponification is the hydrolysis of a carboxylic acid ester in TABLE I
a basic medium (1). Saponification is essentially a soap- CONCENTRATION OF STREAMS WITH TIME
manufacturing process that takes place by reacting the fatty Time EF EG EF EG
acid with alkali, especially triglycerides producing glycerol t=0 EFH EFH 0 0
EFH 1 JF EFH 1 JF EFH JF EFH JF
and carboxylate salts (soap). t=t
2 2 2 2
NaOH CH3 COOR CH3 COO Na ROH (1)
By replacing the concentration terms in above (4) and (5),
In this experiment, saponification of ethyl acetate in the
presence of sodium hydroxide is used to demonstrate the
κ$%%& 7λ() * EFH : 7λ,-. * EFH :
saponification reaction. The saponification of ethyl acetate
and
reaction is as follows. LMH ;/NM LMH NM
κ123&456 7λ() * EFH : Kλ,-. * "
O Kλ8-98,,. *
"
O.
NaOH CH3 COOC2 H5 CH3 COO Na C2 H5 OH (2)
Fractional conversion could be determined by solving for x.
when it comes to chemical kinetics, this reaction is a C. PFR Theory
prominent second order reaction identified in literature [6],
[7]. Since the saponification of ethyl acetate with presence of
sodium hydroxide is a second order reaction [6], rate of the
In a PFR, reactant fluids are pumped through a tubular
reaction can be expressed as follows.
section where the reaction is carried out. At the inlet of the
PFR, reactant concentration is very high, hence the rate of
r kC(,- C8-98,,8Q -R (7)
reaction is also high. But, when it passes through the reactor,
reactants get consumed and products are formed. Therefore
According to the Arrhenius equation
rate of reaction drops through the PFR with respect to reactor
length. /W
k k exp V Y (8)
X
B. Conductivity Theory
Conductivity of a solution is given by, κ λm C(3) [8]. Tubular reactors falls under the category of flow reactors
Where, λ is the molar conductivity of an ion and C is the ion where the key assumption is that the fluid is perfectly mixed in
concentration in the solution. Feed stream for the PFR consists the radial direction but not in the axial direction (zero back
with equal volumetric flow rates of NaOH and mix). Each plug of differential volume is considered as a batch
CH! COOC" H# . Since the conductivity value for
reactor where the volume tends to be zero.
The PFR model is well applied for many fluids. Ideal PFR
CH! COOC" H# is negligible with reference to NaOH ,
consist with a constant residence time which is same as the
conductivity of the feed solution can be estimated as, [8] space time if other conditions such as pressure and
temperature are same throughout the reactor [10]-[12].
κ$%%& 'λ() * C() + 'λ,-. * C,-. + (4)
D.Plug Flow Reactor Design Equation
Similarly for the product stream, since it consists with both General assumptions made for mathematically model an
International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(10) 2014 1090 ISNI:0000000091950263
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Chemical and Molecular Engineering
Vol:8, No:10, 2014
ideal plug flow reactor, to the tubular section where the reaction is carried out
• There is no mixing in the axial direction (direction of • Tubular section is having a diameter of 5.8mm and a
flow) length of 16.5m
• Complete mixing in the radial direction • Type “J” temperature sensor to get the temperature of the
• Uniform velocity profile across the radius reactor in a continuous way
• An online conductivity meter (CRISON CM38)
• Three Pyrex-glass tanks of 10 liters capacity, two of them
for the reagents and the other one for the accumulation of
product.
2. Conductivity Monitoring Instrument
CRISON CM38, an online conductivity and temperature
Fig. 1 Elemental material balance for a PFR meter available with EDIBON PFR module was used to
measure the conductivity and the temperature of the product
Applying material balance for component A (NaOH) over stream. According to the product specifications, this online
small elemental volume dv under the steady state operation device is capable of measuring the conductivity of a solution
results, in the range of 0.01 µS/cm to 199.9 mS/cm with error
percentage ≤ 1% and also it is capable of measuring the
Open Science Index, Chemical and Molecular Engineering Vol:8, No:10, 2014 waset.org/Publication/9999474
CZ 1 x F rF dv CZ 1 x dx F 0 temperature of a solution in the range of -20oC to 150oC with
rF dv CZ Fdx error ≤ 0.5°C. Reference temperature for the measuring device
_ c bc
CZ a (9) is 25°C and all the conductivity values display as at reference
` /M
temperature [13].
Residence time is same as the space time and given by
_
τ (10)
`
Therefore,
c bc
τ CZ a (11)
e8fH Q ;/c Q
IV. METHODOLOGY
A. Materials
All chemicals used for this work are of analytical reagent
grade. The stock solutions of NaOH (∼0.1 M) and ethyl
Fig. 2 PFR and Conductivity meter
acetate (∼0.1 M) were prepared using distilled water. Ethyl
acetate from Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Spruce St., St. C. Method
Louis, Missouri United States with 99% assay (density: 0.902 10 liter of 0.1M NaOH and 0.1M CH3COOC2H5 (ethyl
g cm−3) was directly used as stock solution. 99.8% assay acetate) solutions were prepared and stored in feed vessels.
NaOH pellets from Merck Specialties Private Limited, Plug Flow Reactor module was switched on and the water
Mumbai, India was used and the stock solution of NaOH was bath temperature was set to 30°C. Circulation pump was
standardized against freshly prepared standard hydro chloric switched on in order to circulate the hot water to the shell side
acid. of the PFR. Flow rate of 0.1M NaOH was set to 2.4 l/h and
B. Experimental Setup allowed the system to reach steady state. Once the
conductivity value was stable, it was recorded from the online
1. Reactor Module conductivity meter. Water bath temperature was gradually
Plug Flow Reactor in EDIBON Computer Controlled increased to 35°C, 40°C and 45°C while maintaining the flow
Chemical Reactors Training System was used to carry out the rate of NaOH solution at 2.4l/h. Conductivity values
hydrolysis reaction. The experimental setup was mainly corresponding to these temperatures were recorded for latter
equipped with following components. calculation requirements. Then the PFR was thoroughly
• Two computer controlled feed pumps coupled with flow washed using distilled water while allowing the water bath to
meters to measure the flow of liquids in the range of 0.7-7 cool down.
l/h and 0.54-5.4 l/h Once the temperature of the PFR reached to 30°C, flow
• Thermostatic bath of 9 liters capacity that regulates the rates of NaOH& ethyl acetate was set as 2.4 l/h and both the
temperature between ambient temperature and 70oC with feed pumps were switched on simultaneously to feed the
a level switch and a pump which are computer controlled reactants to PFR.
• An online feed pre-heater prior to introduce the reactants Hydrolysis reaction was carried out inside the PFR
International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(10) 2014 1091 ISNI:0000000091950263
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Chemical and Molecular Engineering
Vol:8, No:10, 2014
System was allowed to reach steady state operation and the FEED
NAOH
conductivity of the product stream was recorded using the MIXER
online
line conductivity meter. Water bath temperature was again PFR
gradually increased to 35°C, 40°C C and 45 45°C while Fig. 3 Aspen Flow Sheet
maintaining the flow rates of the reactants at 2.4 l/h.
Conductivity values of the product stream corresponding to
these temperatures were also recorded.
Fractional conversion for the reaction (2) was calculated
using the conductivity values recorded from the product
stream at different temperatures. These results were compared
with the simulation results from Aspen Plus V8.0.
D.Method Aspen Simulation
PFR
FR was modeled in Aspen Plus according to the
dimensions and the operating conditions of the EDIBON
reactor module. Then it was compared with the experimental
results. HYSPR was used as the property method for the
Open Science Index, Chemical and Molecular Engineering Vol:8, No:10, 2014 waset.org/Publication/9999474
4). Operating condition for the PFR was set as 30oC and 1atm. 30
After setting up the physical parameters, reaction kinetic
parameters were introduced to the Aspen model. According to 20 k0
(mS/cm)
the literature [8], the saponification reaction follows the power 10
law (7) and hence it was selected as the reaction class in the
Aspen model. Driving force was also sett as ‘exponent’ of one 0
for both the reactants since the reaction rate is proportional to 30 35 40 45
Temperature (oC)
the concentration of each of the reactant. Activation energy
(Ea) and frequency factor (h ) were found to be 41400 Fig. 6 Solution Conductivity vs. Temperature
kJ/kmol and 2194760 respectively [8] 8] and those vvalues were
fed to the Aspen model (Fig. 5). The results that were obtained Conductivity values of both NaOH stream and product
upon the simulation off the model are given in Table IIIIII. stream were adjusted to the operating temperature of the
reactor according to (6) and were plotted against the reactor
temperature (Fig. 6). The conductivity values of the solution
show linear dependence on the reactor temperature.
International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(10) 2014 1092 ISNI:0000000091950263
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Chemical and Molecular Engineering
Vol:8, No:10, 2014
TABLE III
RESULTS SUMMARY
Caustic Ester Product Product Product Product
at 30oC at 35oC at 40oC at 45oC
H" O kmol/h 1.7055E-01 1.6950E-01 3.4005E-01 3.4005E-01 3.4005E-01
3.4005E 3.4005E-01
CH! COOC" H# kmol/h - 2.4000E-04 6.6052E-05 5.4319E-05 4.5229E-05
4.5229E 3.7255E-05
NaOH kmol/h 2.4000E-04 - 6.6052E-05 5.4319E-05 4.5229E-05
4.5229E 3.7255E-05
CH! COO/ Na0 kmol/h - - 1.7395E-04 1.8568E-04 1.9477E-04
1.9477E 2.0275E-04
C" H# OH kmol/h - - 1.7395E-04 1.8568E-04 1.9477E-04
1.9477E 2.0275E-04
Total Flow kmol/h 1.7079E-01 1.6974E-01 3.4053E-01 3.4053E-01 3.4053E-01
3.4053E 3.4053E-01
Total Flow kg/h 3.08 3.07 6.16 6.16 6.16 6.16
Total Flow l/min 0.04 0.04 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08
International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(10) 2014 1093 ISNI:0000000091950263
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Chemical and Molecular Engineering
Vol:8, No:10, 2014
International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(10) 2014 1094 ISNI:0000000091950263
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Chemical and Molecular Engineering
Vol:8, No:10, 2014
Fig. 12 Variation of ethyl acetate mole fraction with acetate and NaOH flow rates
VI. CONCLUSION
In this work, a simulation model was developed
devel for the
reaction of saponification of ethyl acetate in the presence of
sodium hydroxide inside a plug flow reactor using Aspen Plus.
The model was validated by the experimental results obtained
from EDIBON Plug Flow Reactor module. The experimental
results
sults showed a good fit to the Aspen Plus model.
Fig. 14 Ethyl acetate mole fraction vs. reactor volume Aspen Plus model proved that the rate of reaction increases
as the reactor temperature and the length of the plug flow
D.Effect of Reactant Flow Rates on the Reaction
reactor increase. The highest yield of the reaction was
A sensitivity analysis was done in Aspen Plus model to obtained at a reactor temperature
temperatu of 150°C.
investigate the effect of reactant flow rates towards the These results improve the understanding of reaction kinetics
reaction. with reference to the saponification reaction and would be
Fig. 12 shows how the mole fractions of sodium acetate very useful in the design of plug flow reactors.
vary for different flow rates of NaOH and ethyl acetate. It
shows that in each case the highest mole fraction of sodium ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
acetate can be achieved when equal flow rates of NaOH and
ethyl acetate are pumped to the plug flow reactor. According The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Ismail F. M.,Dr.
M.,Dr
to the stoichiometry of (2) it is clear that equal amounts of Gunasekera M. Y. and Mr. Rathnayake H.H.M.P. for
reactants are needed to obtain the highest yield. providing the space and all facilities needed in the research
When the flow rate of ethyl acetate exceeds the flow rate of study at the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering,
NaOH as there is no more NaOH left in the rea reactor to react University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
with ethyl acetate, the excess ethyl acetate remains in the
International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(10) 2014 1095 ISNI:0000000091950263
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Chemical and Molecular Engineering
Vol:8, No:10, 2014
REFERENCES
[1] Fogler, H. Scott. Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering. : Prentice
Hall Professional Technical Reference, 2006. ISBN 23-13-047394-4 .
[2] Modeling and Simulation of Ethyl Acetate Reactive Distillation Column
Using Aspen Plus. Ahmad, SohailRasool Lone & Syed Akhlaq. Issue 8,:
International Journal Of Scientific & Engineering Research, 2012, Vol.
Volume 3. ISSN 2229-5518.
[3] Abatement of Fluorine inside a Fluidized Bed Reactor Using Aspen Plus
Simulation. Sahoo, HarjeetNath and Abanti. Odisha : International
Conference on Frontiers in Chemical Engineering, 2013.
[4] Simulation of Coal Gasification Process using ASPEN PLUS.
Ahmedabad: International Conference on Current Trends in Technology,
2011.
[5] Equipment, Edibon Technical Teaching. Computer Controlled Chemical
Reactors Training System with SCADA and PID Control. Madrid:
Edibon International, 2013.
[6] Walker, J. A Method for Determining Velocities of Saponification:
Royal Society of London, 1906.
[7] Carl Garland, Joseph Nibler , David Shoemaker. Experiments in
Physical Chemistry. : McGraw-Hill, 2003.
[8] Peter Atkins, Julio de Paula. Atkins' Physical Chemistry. Eighth Edition.
New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN: 0-7167-8759-8.
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International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(10) 2014 1096 ISNI:0000000091950263